The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-08
skirmish with Cossacks.

About the middle of autumn we made
reconnaissance in the direction Of Ras.
grad, TO endeavor to discover the strength
of the enemy there. Three regiments Of
Cossacks made up the force, and we
marched an daY and part Of the night
before we came in the vicinity Of the
enemy. On the morning Of the second
day it vas reported tina: a considerable
band Of Tuakish regulars was cam7ed a
short distance in front Of us. We had
been moving during the night with az
little noise as possible, aud bivouacked
in the rain without building a fire. so az
to give no notice of our approach to the
enemy's pickets. 1t was only daybreak
when the orders to march were given.
and the column proceeded cautiously.
with few scouts in advance. In half
an hour OF so, we who were riding
little ahead Of the column. could see the
characteristic. couIcal Turkish tents
assembled in a little valley a short dis
tance beyond. At the same instant our
scouts engaged the enemy pickets. and
the column halted. The camp in sight
was evidently only a large outpost, and
the general Immediately gave orders for
one regiment TO form and charge tbror
the camp. We could see the men Of the
designated regiment uncover and cross
themselves, and in a moment the head
of the detachment was rapidly moving
past Us. Among the officers rode the
major my Ole friend Of the D0bredscHs
who, unknown TO me, had been promo
ted 10 a lieutenant-colouelcy As he
dashed past, ne made a gesture of recog-
milton. and waved his hand for me TO
follow.
l believe it was more the hOrse's fault
than my own. Tor certainly 1 never had
deliberate intention of riding 10
charge if could help it. but before /
knew it, 1 was at the majors side. OF
we went at a UEOt, changing our forma-
tion to regimental front. Then in an
irregular lire, much broken by the inc
qualities OF the ground, we swept down
the slope a. a gallop. There was some
firing, and few Cossacks fell. but
doubt if anybody heard a shot The
thunder of the hOofs, the shaking of the
grain bags, The rafting oil the cooking
utensils and the resouudiug whacks of
the nagakas filed the air with a multi
tude of noises which drowned all other
sounds.
The eXhHaTstion of the moment was
supreme. Horses as well as men felt
its unique stimulus. ani We rushed thr0'
that camp. sweeping ii away as the
sudden cloud burst Of the Rockies tears
out the bed of the arroyo. 1t was one Of
those rare moments or life when all
sense of individuality Is merged in that
utterly overwhelming feeling of exalJa-
tiOn, IN that iutoxicatiOu Of magnetism
which often possesses large masses Of
men moved by some grand and simulta-
neOus impulse. 1t was, perhaps, after
all, a very trivial affair, from a military
point of view. but tine sensation I expe-
rienced was by no means insignificant or
easily forgotten.
Part OF the Turkish force took 90
flight in time and escaped those who
remained to defend their camp were
sabered, spitt7d like .9wI on The lance
or captured and led back % the main
column at the END Of a laTiat. TIE f-
male of this little incident was fully as
impressive as the charge Itself, although
il quite another way. After We made
camp that night the men OF the regiment
which had engaged the enemy were
drawn up iu line with uncovered heads
and sang religious hymn in chorus.
How different now were those faces
which a few hours before bad been dis
toTIsd with the cruel expressions of ba-
tired of the iufidel. OF glorifsd by the
excitement Of the charge or with the
consciousness Of victory, Uniforms
apart, the men looked like a rank Of de-
yOut, peaceful farmers. brouzed bg the
sun Ii the fields, and begriusG with the
agriculture. The hymn TO ed forth Iu
quaint. sad cadences tuned TO a MINOR
key, like most Of the native melodies -
Along the ranks gap purposly left here
and there, showed where a c1mrade had
stood the day before. Although could
not catch the words they sang. the sig
nihcaDce of the hymn could not D. mis-
taken. Many rough hands brushed
fearful eyes before the last mournful
note died away, and the regiment then
dispersed about the camp with a quiet
step, as if the least noise were an insult
TO the memory of the dead. u. MI
lot f-4 YTr7uer-g 1Tr1r-F0f